Pakoku April 30, 2018-- Handing Over Ceremony of Multi-Purpose Flood Shelter, Emergency Water tank and Concrete Drainages took place on April 24, 2018 in Ward No.14 in Pakokku, Magway Region.

The European Union funded Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA) Programme was designed to strengthen capacity in Government, private sector and civil society actors and to facilitate the Government in preparation of a national policy, strategy and action plans to address climate change. The project aimed to strengthen the climate change related institutional and policy environment through sharing of technical knowledge and best practice, training and institutional support, and to promote evidence-based planning and policy making through pilot integration of climate change into sub-national and local level development planning initiatives.

In Pakokku Township, MCCA supported on (1- Ecosystems) Raising awareness on climate change; (2 - Socioeconomic) Vocational training; (3 - Infrastructure) Multi-purposed Shelter Construction; Improved Water Capture and Storage; Storm water drainage; Household level water management; Improving construction techniques. It is in this context that the Pakokku Multi-Purpose Flood Shelter has been completed and inaugurated.

The handover ceremony was jointly officiated by U Pite Ko, Member of Parliament from Pakokku, U Hla Maung Thein, Director General, Environmental Conservation Department, and Mr. Bijay Karmacharya, Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat. The event was witnessed by Ward No.14 Adaptation Committee, officials from national and regional of Environmental Conservation Department .

Land for Multi-Purpose Flood Shelter was contributed by the community. The Adaptation Committee members were chosen following a process of social mobilization. Ecosystem Based Climate Change Adaptation Project in Pakokku has put targeted communities at the center of the process. Right from the beginning, the Adaptation Committee members have participated and taken leading role of the construction, and were involved in the development of maintenance plan, and they will take charge of the maintenance and operations of shelter and its facilities.

In his opening remarks the member of Parliament expressed happiness on this auspicious occasion of handing over of assets to the local levels.  He appreciated the leadership and commitment of community member in this very important work.

U Hla Maung Thein, Director General, Environmental Conservation Department in his remarks said that the government elected by the people had the welfare and wellbeing of the people as one of its foremost priorities.  He extended his sincere appreciation to the donors and partners and all stakeholders for their involvement in the project.

In his remarks Mr. Bijay Karmacharya, Country Programme Manager of UN-Habitat Myanmar stressed that the shelter, together with the other adaptation infrastructures will contribute greatly to improve the resilience of Pakokku community, particularly during the expected increased frequency and intensity of rain and floods. These include the immediate resilience benefits, given it key role in providing local residents shelter during floods, as well as the broader adaptive benefits, such strengthening capacities of residents to maintain mobility and access to services and employment. The approach and methodology of vulnerability assessment and implementation of adaptive infrastructure shall be replicated by other communities and neighboring townships.